Thanks to the generosity of thousands of donors, the Ventura County Community Foundation (VCCF) helped more than 400 students fund their educational goals, awarding $2,009,312 in scholarships this year.
Founded in 1987, VCCF aims to create a lasting community impact by connecting people, resources and solutions. With more than 24,000 donors from throughout Ventura County and across the country, VCCF works with individuals, families and businesses to help them pursue their philanthropic goals.
This year, VCCF provided local students with a record level of financial support for higher education, awarding 610 scholarships to 441 students.
“As another incredible scholarship season closes and we enter a new school year, we are proud to celebrate the hard work and promise of the students this program exists to serve,” said Kirsti Vomund, VCCF scholarship director.
VCCF's scholarship program was established in 1990 through partnerships with donors who wanted to help local students pursue higher education. Over the past three decades, the program has expanded to provide scholarships to thousands of Ventura County students, helping to make higher education accessible.
For scholarship recipient Miguel, the financial support made the possibility of attending college feel much more attainable.
“I asked myself how I was actually going to pay for college, and at the time I honestly had no clue,” Miguel said. “Then a couple days later, I opened my email and was surprised with a couple of emails congratulating me for winning some scholarships. I was in shock and extremely excited. Opportunities like this are what really makes or breaks going to college for a lot of people, including myself.”
Individual scholarship awards range from $500 to $11,000, and eligible students may receive multiple awards. The annual application period runs from October through January, and students can use VCCF's streamlined application process to apply for hundreds of scholarship opportunities. The system automatically matches students with scholarships based on factors such as their intended field of study, city and other eligibility criteria.
Scholarships are available to groups that face additional barriers to higher education, including first-generation college students, foster youth, students returning to school after a gap in their education, and those pursuing trade and technical programs.
A large team of community volunteers plays an important role in determining scholarship recipients. This year's selection process included 169 volunteer readers, including former educators, community members, previous scholarship recipients and fundholders.
Each volunteer spends approximately 10 to 15 hours reviewing more than 30 applications. The process is designed to ensure that each student's application is reviewed by at least three volunteers, giving applicants multiple opportunities to have their experiences, goals and circumstances considered.
With VCCF's next scholarship application season now open, the foundation is also working to establish its first community-endowed scholarship fund, providing an opportunity for donors throughout Ventura County to contribute at any level toward scholarships for local students.
“This milestone wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our donors,” said Board Chair Leah Lacayo. “They are the reason we are able to lift up hundreds of our community’s students every year to help them reach their educational dreams and full potential.”
To learn more about the Ventura County Community Foundation Scholarship Program, visit VCCF.org/scholarships.